It began as an idea that had more to do with filling up the coffers of state governments than tackling the actual concerns of climate change. Coal-rich states, which are witnessing private power producers line up for a piece of action, began flexing their muscles by demanding an environmental cess on power exported outside the state. The cess collections were to go into a development fund, which would tackle, among other things, the damage caused to environment through deforestatiQn and burning of coal. Led by Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the move gathered support among the coal-producing states. Orissa has emerged as the power generation hub of the country with 33,000 mw of additional power expected to be generated in the state by 2012. Orissa has a demand of 2,600 mw, expected to go up to 5,800 mw by 2014. In all, India has 256 billion tonnes of coal reserves, of which around 455 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) are mined. The reserves are concentrated in the states of Jharkhand (28.9 per cent of reserves), Orissa (24.6 per cent), Chhattisgarh (16.2 per cent), West Bengal (11.0 per cent), Madhya Pradesh . (7.9 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (6.9 per cent) and Maharash